Toyota Corolla turns 50

The Toyota Corolla, which has been selling like hot cakes in more than 150 countries, is 50 years old now. It is one of the world's most-popular cars and has been the world's best-selling car since 1997. According to the Japanese automaker, more than 44 million units of the Corolla have been sold worldwide since its introduction in 1966.

A purpose-built factory was opened in Takaoka, Japan for the production of the original Corolla. And the first-generation model became Japan’s top-selling vehicle within three years. Speaking of the original Corolla, it was designed to be a ‘people’s car,’ and was introduced in saloon and estate body styles. Some of the unique features in the original Corolla were a floor-mounted gear lever, individual front bucket seats with generous padding and a spacious rear bench, which were unusual in cars of that era. The name ‘Corolla’ was coined from a latin term for a ‘crown of flowers’!

Currently, in its eleventh-generation, the Corolla is manufactured in sixteen plants worldwide. And in Toyota’s 79-year of history, one in every five new vehicles sold globally has been a Corolla. There are two versions of the Corolla on sale globally – North American and European-Asian version. In India, Toyota introduced the ninth-generation Corolla in 2003 and the current eleventh-gen model is due for a mid-life update.   Check what all the facelifted version of the Corolla has to offer – Toyota Corolla Facelift Officially Revealed

Source: CarDekho.com